Malaysia bans social networks for children under 16

Children on cell phones
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Malaysia began enforcing rules on Monday that ban millions of children and teenagers under the age of 16 from having social media accounts, joining a global effort to strengthen online safety protections for young users.
The rules require social media platforms to implement age verification systems and prevent users under the age of 16 from creating accounts. They apply to platforms with at least 8 million users, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
Companies that fail to comply with the standards could face penalties of up to 10 million ringgit (around R$12 million). However, parents whose children manage to circumvent the law will not be penalized.
The government said the measures aim to protect minors from harmful content, cyberbullying and platform features designed to encourage excessive use.
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Other countries, including Australia, Brazil and Indonesia, have introduced or announced age-based restrictions or requirements for children's access to social media. Countries including Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea are also studying or developing similar approaches.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission said the rules are not intended to prevent children from accessing the internet or digital technology. Instead, they set expectations for service providers to combat online harm and ensure that age-appropriate safeguards are in place.
"These measures help strengthen the protection of children online, while providing additional safety for parents as they navigate increasingly complex digital risks," the regulator said in a statement last month.
Platforms will be required to introduce "safety-by-design" features, including design protections manipulatives that encourage compulsive use, and to take measures against underage accounts and harmful content.
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Technology companies have not yet detailed how they will comply with Malaysia's new requirements.
The regulatory body reported that a grace period will be granted for platforms to complete the implementation of verification systems. age.
Clara Koh, Meta's public policy director for Southeast Asia, warned in April that Malaysia's blanket ban on under-16s could have the reverse effect, pushing teens away from protected apps and into unregulated corners of the internet.
She highlighted that Meta has launched "teen accounts" for under-18s, which limit contact, screen time and exposure to inappropriate content.
Malaysia's restrictions come in at a time when governments face increasing pressure to address concerns about the impact of social media on young people's mental health and online safety.
In March, a US jury ordered Meta and YouTube to pay millions of dollars in damages in a case that alleged the platforms' design features contributed to the harm suffered by a young user.
Despite support from many parents, Malaysia's move also raised concerns about data privacy.
"It is very much following the trend, but of a way that raises red flags due to the requirement for a government ID for age verification," said Benjamin Loh, professor of social sciences at Monash University in Malaysia.
Loh said experiences elsewhere suggest that age-based restrictions have not yet proven consistently effective.

Without penalties for parents, he said, families can easily get around the law by creating accounts for their children.
"This is an important loophole that, unless regulators are willing to fix, will mean the law has little effect in preventing children from using social media," he added.

Source: G1

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